Concierge Connection Magazine Concierge Connection Jun/July 2007 | Page 19

Beaches & Parks Main Beach, in the heart of downtown where Broadway meets Pacific Coast Highway, reflects Laguna’s unique outdoor culture. Surf, play volleyball or basketball, picnic in the park, walk the boardwalk to Heisler Park or scuba dive along Laguna’s coastline and explore the reefs, kelp beds and marine life. Stop by Laguna Sea Sports, just across from Shaw’s Cove, for equipment rental, classes and diving conditions. With over 30 public beaches, 20 parks and 19,0 00 acres of wilderness, Laguna Beach offers natural beauty for everyone. World Class Resorts & Spas Laguna Beach also boasts world-class resorts and spas. Aquaterra Spa at Surf & Sand Resort blends sea salts, minerals, and sea plants with essential oil botanicals from indigenous plants and flowers to promote a sense of well-being. Yvonne Marciena Retreat Day Spa, a European-style spa, offers visitors relaxation, rejuvenation and revitalization. One of Laguna’s newest spas, Spa Montage at Montage Resort, provides a peaceful sanctuary to help visitors reconnect with nature. Like the artists who discovered Laguna Beach, your guests will be inspired by Laguna’s palette of activities. ! for 2007, See the World Through an Artist’s Eyes, encourages visitors to experience an artist’s life through demonstrations, workshops and lectures. Visitors can also try one of Laguna Beach’s newest restaurants located on the fairgrounds, Tivoli Too—gourmet dining surrounded by a waterfall and Art-AFair décor. Galleries True to its history Laguna Beach boasts nearly 100 art galleries, art studios and workshops. First Thursday’s Art Walk sponsors a self-guided tour of participating galleries on the first Thursday of every month from 6pm to 9pm. A free shuttle transports visitors to and from three art districts where they can browse through Laguna’s vast art collection. Reservations are not required (see website for shuttle schedule). Another kind of Laguna Beach gallery, Kristalle, has gained a worldwide reputation for offering the finest-quality mineral and gold specimens. The gallery is located in a landmark cottage on Pacific Coast Highway. At A Glance Laguna Beach Visitor & Conference Bureau (949) 497-9229 lagunabeachinfo.org Festival of Arts (949) 494-1145 foapom.com Pageant of the Masters (800) 487-3378 pageanttickets.com Sawdust Art Festival (949) 494-3030 sawdustartfestival.com Art-A-Fair (949) 494-4514, art-a-fair.com First Thursday’s Art Walk (949) 683-6871 firstthursdaysartwalk.com Kristalle (949) 494-7695 kristalle.com Laguna Sea Sports (949) 494-6965 lagunaseasports.com Aquaterra Spa (949) 376-2SPA aquaterraspa.com Yvonne Marciena Retreat Day Spa (949) 497-5414 ymspa.com Spa Montage (949) 715-6010 spamontage.com Credits, top: Andy Hwang; from left to right: Sawdust Art Festival by Rebecca Meekma; Kristalle; Amanda Rohde June/July 2007 19